Filtration specialist strikes major supply deal with Indian refinery

Porvair Filtration Group has been chosen to supply cutting edge filter technology to an expanding crude oil refinery in southern India, enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The Kochi Refinery will benefit from three complete proprietary pulse jet blowdown systems as part of an ongoing expansion into petrochemical production.

The public crude oil refinery, in the Indian state of Kerala, has a production capacity of 9.5 million tpy, which it aims to increase to 15.5 million metric tpy 2018. Components for the pulse jet blowdown systems, used for recovering and containing powders for a range of applications, will be delivered and installed by the end of this year. The components include spent and fresh hopper vessels, pulse jet valves and reservoir, tube sheets and a control system for use with a timer or differential pressure transmitter.

The order will be executed by Porvair - an international leader in filtration and separation - in partnership with GR Engineering and Engineers India Ltd in Mumbai. The equipment is being supplied as part of the Kochi refinery’s integrated expansion project, which is designed to lift the refinery’s crude processing capacity significantly over the next four years.

Pulse jet blow-down filter technology provides effective emission control, and will help the site achieve its environmental requirements of less than 50mg/Nm³ particulate emissions. The filters are designed to be easily cleanable on site and only require inspection or maintenance during annual shutdown. Their performance is maintained using a filter configuration and cleaning control system that ensures smooth and consistent operation.

Porvair Filtration Group’s Andy Fairlie, Market Manager for Chemical & Industrial Process, said: “This is another significant project that enables us to demonstrate our ability to provide systems that meet stringent client demands. It is very important that we are providing the best service to clients across the globe to ensure we are at the forefront of the global market as filtration experts, and we expect that the Kochi Refinery will represent a leading example of heightened efficiency in action.”

The Kochi Refinery was founded in 1963, and began life with a capacity of 2.5 million metric tonnes a year.

In 2006, it was acquired by the Bharat Petroleum Corporation, which last year approved an increased capital expenditure of around £480 million to upgrade the refinery.

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/30092015/filtration-specialist-strikes-major-supply-deal-with-indian-refinery-472/